New York Yankees

Two dingers for Robbie this afternoon. (Jim McIsaac/Getty) Nine games against the Blue Jays, eight wins. That’s pretty awesome considering how Toronto was crowned the offseason champs while the Yankees were widely picked to finish last following their slews of injury. If they finish off the sweep behind CC Sabathia tomorrow, they will have won their first seven home games from their division rivals to the north. Dominance. Here is your open thread for the night. MLB Network will air a game later tonight, plus you’ve got NHL and NBA (Knicks!) playoff action. Talk about any of that and more here. Have at it. Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blogSaturday Night Open Thread

The 2013 owners meeting took place this week and many issues were discussed, such as replay expansion, an international draft and baseball overseas. Nothing has been decided, but discussions are ongoing. This is your change to have your say and voice your opinion. Instant Replay: Joe Torre is hopeful that replay can be expanded for the 2013 season and everything is fair game, other than balls and strikes. Home run replay was initially introduced in 2008 (this is the sixth season of instant replay!) and Bud Selig had originally wanted to include trapped balls and fair or foul calls to the list, but ended up holding off. Now it looks like we are on the verge of expanding replay, and when Joe Torre and Bud Selig are calling for more replay, you know it's going to happen. What they still need to determine is what should be reviewable and how they will implement such things on the field. What do you think, Pinstriped Bible?: What should be reviewable? Should umpires have headsets? Should there be an extra umpire? Should there be a central location that determines the right call? Should managers have the ability to challenge calls? International Draft: There has been a lot of discussion about implementing an international draft. Owners want one so it will lower the cost of international free agents from South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. They already implemented spending limitations to ball clubs in order to cut the cost of such players. The argument against such a draft is that it could kill baseball in these countries as players shy away from the sport that no longer gives out tons of guaranteed money. What do you think, Pinstriped Bible?: Do you think there should be a draft? Should the draft be separate from the amateur draft or condensed into one? Would such a draft be harmful or helpful to baseball in these countries? Overseas Baseball: MLB is still hopeful for a 2014 series in Asia or Australia. They have been discussing opening up the season with a series in Taiwan, Korea or Japan, like they did last season when the Mariners and the Athletics played in Japan. The hope is to one day open somewhere in Europe as well. As we saw in the World Baseball Classic, baseball is becoming an international sport and a series overseas is a great way to market the sport and MLB's brand. What do you think, Pinstriped Bible?: Are you in favor of more international games? Where would you like baseball to see baseball be played? Where do you think it would be most successful? What teams would succeed the most? More From Pinstriped Bible Yankees acquire infielder Reid Brignac from Rockies Recalling some MLB debuts of Yankees past and present Andy Pettitte to the DL, Chris Stewart day-to-day

Every day, the spotlight that follows the Yankees seems to be trained on the players who aren't with the team. But that changed Saturday, when Robinson Cano, the lone regular in an infield decimated by injuries, hit two home runs to lead New York to a 7-2 win over Toronto.

Joe Girardi issued the above quote about David Phelps, who was strong throughout a career-long seven innings in today’s 7-2 win over the Blue Jays. Of course, it applies to Robinson Cano, too. Consider that as much of a no-doubter as Cano’s second two-run shot today, which carried through the bullpen to the bleachers in right-center. Phelps and Cano powered the Yankees to their eighth victory in nine tries this season against the Blue Jays, who were thought to be preseason contenders in the AL East but now trail by 10 games. They’ve also dropped nine straight here at Yankee Stadium, including all six this season, and matched the franchise’s longest losing streak in the Bronx. The Yankees also won nine straight here against the Jays from June 21, 1979 to Sept. 17, 1980. • For Phelps, the outing started slowly. He walked two in the first and fell behind 3-1 to Adam Lind. Phelps — with an assist from Jayson Nix — saved himself, escaping when Nix ducked behind Jose Bautista and snared Phelps’ pick-off throw. His tag ended the inning and escaped a jam that saw Phelps struggle with his control less than a week after walking five against Cleveland. “It got me out of a jam right there,” Phelps said. “I think it was 3-1 on Lind right there. That could be the game with a big first inning, but I was able to put up a zero.” • Phelps went on to throw a career-best seven innings and allow just one run on six hits and three walks. He struck out eight against the free-swinging Jays. The right-hander pumped his fist when he retired Melky Cabrera to end the seventh on pitch No. 113. Phelps isn’t overpowering, but his slider was sharp today. He has now struck out 15 in his last two starts and has lasted at least six innings while allowing no more than two earned runs in his last three. “I’m really encouraged,” Girardi said. “He’s giving us distance. He’s doing a lot of really good things.” • Girardi wasn’t prepared to insert Phelps permanently into Ivan Nova’s vacated rotation spot, but Phelps’ ability to juggle relief and rotation roles has impressed the manager. “It’s not easy to do,” Girardi said. “You see clubs that struggle with that. He’s done a good job the last two years doing that for us and he continues to make strides. He’s very important to us.” • Here’s more from Phelps: • Cano’s two-homer game was the 12th of his career and his second of the season. He’s never gone deep three times in a game and he struck out given the opportunity to do just that in the eighth against veteran lefty Darren Oliver. • Cano took the AL lead in home runs briefly, although Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion and Cleveland’s Mark Reynolds tied him when they hit No. 12 as well. Cano didn’t hit his 12th homer until June 17 last season. • Cano took advantage of the short porch on his first homer. He was a little fooled, but said he kept his hands back and got enough to muscle the two-out changeup into the right-field seats off Brandon Morrow. Cano caught a better piece in the fifth when he sent another two-out pitch over the bullpen in right-center. That time, Cano struck again with two outs and staked Phelps to a 5-1 lead. He also yet again underscored his importance to a lineup that continued to play without three of its four starting infielders and its starting catcher. • Here’s more from Cano: • Amid constant lineup shuffling, Cano has been the one, well, constant. “I’m glad that’s not a moving part,” Girardi joked. “That’s been really nice.” • Cano, who will be a free agent at season’s end, was asked if he tried to put on a show for Hal Steinbrenner, who was at the park for Photo Day. “No,” Cano said, “I just go out there to win games.” • Travis Hafner (shoulder) looked fit playing his first game since May 13.

Behind two HRs by Robinson Cano and seven innings of one-run ball by David Phelps, the Bombers topped the Blue Jays 7-2 and improved to an outstanding 27-16 (how does this compare to other seasons?) Robbie shook the Jays to their bones With the loss, Toronto drops to 17-26. The preseason AL East favorite now possesses a run differential of -45, which is tied for second-worst in the league (tied with LAA, Houston the worst at -89).

Injuries may have taken their toll on the Yankees and Blue Jays, but the teams' aces are at full strength, which could mean fans at Yankee Stadium will be in for a pitching duel on Sunday between Toronto's R.A. Dickey and New York's CC Sabathia.

Hal Steinbrenner on Cano: “Anybody would get a little nervous if you get into a seven or eight-year deal,” Steinbrenner said. “It depends on the age of the player, too, I guess. Give an eight-year contract to a 34-year old — you probably wouldn’t do that, right?“ Hmmm.

The Yanks were ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a third inning home run by Robinson Cano, who swung ahead of a change-up from Brandon Morrow but still managed to yank the ball over the wall in right field. “Morrow got ‘porched,’” said David Cone in the YES studio. Now in the fifth, Cano was up again. Two men were out, a runner on first. Toronto’s catcher J.P. Arencibia walked to the mound to talk with Morrow, who’d thrown 56 pitches so far. They arrived at their plan, Arencibia returned behind the plate and set up outside, away from Cano. Morrow hit Arencibia’s glove with the first pitch a fastball low and outside. It was called a ball. The next pitch was another fastball but this one drifted further outside, 2-0. Arencibia set up outside again, but Morrow’s third fastball was middle-middle. Fortunately for him, Cano swung late. He hit the ball hard but the drive stayed foul down the left field line. “He’s off just a little bit,” said O’Neill on the YES broadcast, “just behind it, just ahead of the [home run] he hit out of here.” Next came a beautiful, tight slider. It started straight down the middle and then ducked down and in. Cano sung over it and the count was even, 2-2. Morrow made a mistake then and hung a slider. Again he was fortunate as Cano missed it, then rolled his head, looking up at the heaven, grinded his teeth and took the long walk around the back of the plate, Manny Ramirez-style. Cano got another slider, 89 mph, this one outside. He was ahead of it and the ball hit off the end of his bat. It made a weak sound, good for a broken bat and a foul ball. Cano walked slowly to the dugout where the bat boy handed him a new bat. Cano leaned down and shaved down the handle and Vernon Wells, waiting on the on-deck circle, passed him the rosin bag which Cano tapped on the bat, little puffs of smoke rising in the air. Cano walked back to the plate, spit on his hands, rubbed them together and adjusted his batting gloves. He got to the plate and bent over, stretching. Got in the box, weight on his back leg, waved his bat with his right hand twice and waited for the pitch. Morrow came back with with the slider. This one was rotten, too, but Cano didn’t miss it. The ball landed over the bullpen in right center field. Another two-run home run. The only Yankee fan who was disappointed was the guy in the first row who had the fall into and out of his hands. Travis Hafner added a two-run home run in the eighth, David Phelps minus his good stuff, survived trouble, and the Yanks cruised to a 7-2 win. No complaints here. Oh, and Reid Brignac is the newest Yankee.

Memo to Ivan Nova. Don’t think your starting spot in the rotation will be given back to you upon your return from the DL. David Phelps turned in his third straight strong start today, and Robinson Cano provided the offensive support, as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 7-2. They are now 8-1 against Toronto this season. (more…)

Coming into the season, the Toronto Blue Jays were crowned the winners of the offseason and why wouldn't they be? They traded for half of the Miami Marlins' roster, and acquired both Melky Cabrera and National League Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey. So they were expecting to challenge perennial AL East leaders New York, Tampa and Boston for the Division title after all of those moves. As of May 18, the first place Yankees are now 8-1 in head-to-head matchups against the Blue Jays and are now 10 games ahead of them in the standings. Guys, whenever I complain about the Yankees playing Toronto too much, you all have permission to smack me because so far, the Yankees are owning the Blue Jays in 2013. Of course, this can all change in the second half of the season but for right now, this is really something to see. Helping lead the Yankees to victory this afternoon were Robinson Cano and David Phelps. Phelps, who was struggling to find the plate early in the game, recovered to throw seven strong innings, allowing one run on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Cano had his second multi-homer game of the season and 12th of his career. He hit a two-run shot in the third inning and another two-run shot in the fifth inning. Both came off of Toronto starter Brandon Morrow. Morrow lasted five innings and gave up five runs on seven hits with one strikeout. He didn't walk a batter. Travis Hafner also hit a home run, his seventh of the season and it came in his 100th at-bat. Remarkably he's hit five in 54 at-bats at Yankee Stadium. Guess his shoulder is feeling better. One more note, Curtis Granderson made his first career start in right field and nobody got hurt! He finished the game hitless along with David Adams. Cano was the only one with a multi-hit game. The Yankees are looking for the sweep in tomorrow's game. It's a big match up between the initialed aces of each pitching staff, CC Sabathia and R.A. Dickey.